Our field trip to the Ohop Indian Village tied together at least four of our topics of study this year: botany, zoology, geology, and Native Americans.
Our guide took us on an hour and a half hike through a forested path in the Ohop Valley.
Botany:
We learned that the shaman was an expert on all plants.
But each person was responsible for developing
their own "special eye" for a specific plant.
This was a way to keep the community healthy and safe.
Trillium
We learned about the native plants and how they were used for nutrition, medicines, tools, and clothing.
Thimble Berry
We learned about plants
that stimulate appetite and plants that suppress it,
plants that are edible and full of good vitamins
and evil twin plants that are poisonous,
plants that sting us (stinging nettle)
and plants that take the sting away (fern),
and much more.
The thimble berry plant above
was ultra-soft but perhaps not ultra-strong.
We'll have to ask the Charmin bear cubs. 🐻🐻🐻
Zoology:
We witnessed the symbiotic relationship between ants and aphids. The ants were taking care of the aphids.
We watched this swarming ant hill in amazement. (Click above or here.)
Geology:
We sat on huge rocks that had been deposited
on the hillside by a glacier.
We knew the names of the rocks our guide pulled out of his pouch: obsidian, slate, sandstone, soapstone...
Native Americans:
The cedar tree is known as the "tree of life"
by Pacific Northwest Native Americans.
This tree is over 250 feet tall and is therefore over 250 years old.
These eager six, seven, and eight year olds have learned so much this year about the earth we treasure.
And this is only the beginning of their life long adventure of learning, treasuring, and making a difference!
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